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  3. Influenza (Flu)
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Influenza Basics

  • Flu Basics Home
  • Influenza (Flu) Facts
  • When to Get Medical Help for Flu Symptoms
  • Influenza (Flu) Information for Parents
  • Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot

Influenza Basics

  • Flu Basics Home
  • Influenza (Flu) Facts
  • When to Get Medical Help for Flu Symptoms
  • Influenza (Flu) Information for Parents
  • Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot
Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Influenza Basics

Getting the flu feels miserable, and can sometimes make you dangerously sick. Find out how to protect yourself and those around you, as well as how to identify the flu, and what you should do if you get sick.

Flu and COVID-19

Both flu and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses that can make people very sick. That's why it's important to take steps to prevent both diseases. The flu vaccine can help protect you from getting the flu and prevent you from passing it to people who could get very sick from flu, such as older family and friends or people with underlying medical conditions. The flu vaccine will not protect you from COVID-19.

Thousands of Minnesotans end up in the hospital each season due to the flu, and our hospitals are already busy with COVID-19 patients. With both the flu and COVID-19 circulating this fall and winter, we want to do everything we can to keep Minnesotans healthy so we do not overwhelm our health care system.

Get vaccinated to protect yourself from flu. Cover your cough, wash your hands, stay home when sick, clean frequently touched surfaces, wear a mask, and stay 6 feet from others to prevent the spread of flu and COVID-19.

Who should get flu vaccine
  • Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year unless they cannot because of medical reasons.
  • People most at risk for complications from flu: 
    • People age 65 and older.
    • Children under 5 years.
    • Pregnant women.
    • People with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
    • American Indian and Alaska Native.

If you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, talk to your doctor or other health care provider before you get your flu vaccine.

Visit COVID-19 Vaccine for more information.

  • Influenza (Flu) Facts
    Information for the general public about influenza and influenza vaccine.
  • When to Get Medical Help for Flu Symptoms
  • Influenza (Flu) Information for Parents
    Fact sheet about influenza and children, including prevention, symptoms and treatment.
  • Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot
    Information for pregnant women about influenza and influenza vaccine.
  • CDC: Influenza (Flu)
    Information from CDC on flu symptoms, prevention, treatment and complications.
  • Institute for Vaccine Safety: Religion and Vaccines
    Information about the practices and beliefs of various religious groups that can seemingly be in conflict with some of the components of some vaccines.
  • Cover Your Cough
    Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick. Properly covering your cough will help you keep from spreading influenza.
  • Hand Hygiene
    Proper hand washing significantly reduces the spread of the diseases like flu and the common cold.
Tags
  • flu
Last Updated: 11/18/2022

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